Florida senator Marco Rubio questions the financial aid being given to Egypt by the United States.

Rubio issued the following press release regarding his concerns:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), a member of the Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee, tomorrow will introduce an amendment to the Continuing Resolution that would block two key forms of U.S. assistance to Egypt unless economic reforms and human rights safeguards are adopted, while also initiating a more thorough, longer term reevaluation of U.S. military assistance to Egypt. Among other measures, The Egypt Accountability and Democracy Amendment would block the disbursement of additional economic support funds and new foreign military financing (FMF) contracts until Egypt begins to enact economic reforms and the Obama administration certifies that Egypt is protecting basic freedoms and human rights.

“In the 21st century, America’s foreign assistance must reflect our values as well as our interests,” said Rubio. “Our foreign policy programs must make clear that the era of blank checks in exchange for little or nothing that advances America’s interests is over.

“Encouraging a stable Egypt at peace with its neighbors remains in our national interest, but the American taxpayer cannot keep unconditionally helping a Morsi-led government that is overseeing a deteriorating security situation in the Sinai, diminishing its ties with Israel and failing to adequately safeguard civil liberties and human rights,” added Rubio. “The U.S.-Egypt relationship has been a critical one for decades, but it must be adapted to reflect the new political reality the Arab Spring has created.

“That adaptation process must begin with how our money is being spent and conditioning our assistance on Egypt’s adoption of economic reforms and a serious effort to protect the rights of religious minorities, women, a free press and the ability of Egyptian and foreign NGOs to promote civil society, governance and democracy,” he concluded.